How many boards regulate Land Surveyor?

51 states require a license for Land Surveyor practitioners. Same-lane licenses to open next: Electrician; Elevator Installer; Fire Sprinkler Installer.

What schooling do Land Surveyor boards demand?

Education requirements vary by state. Check individual state requirements in the table below. Also compare Elevator Installer in this category.

What does a first Land Surveyor license usually cost?

Licensing fees vary by state. See the requirements table below.

Can a Land Surveyor credential move between states?

License reciprocity varies by state. Many states participate in interstate compacts that allow license portability. Check the reciprocity information in the state-by-state details for your specific situation. Compact coverage can differ for Electrician even when the boards look similar.

Do Land Surveyor boards require an exam?

51 out of 51 states require passing an examination to obtain a land surveyor license. Exam requirements, names, and formats vary by state, check the state-by-state table above for specifics.

Background checks for Land Surveyor licensing?

0 out of 51 states require a criminal background check as part of the land surveyor licensing process. Background check requirements and disqualifying offenses vary by jurisdiction.

Professions / Construction

Occupational licensing · Construction · 51 state boards

Land Surveyor Licensing Requirements by State

Land Surveyor licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.

Land Surveyor across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Electrician, Elevator Installer, Fire Sprinkler Installer.

By PlainCredential ·Compiled from official state licensing boards

States regulated: 51
Require an exam: 100%

View saved licenses

Board Pathway Strip

Land Surveyor: 51 boards · exam on 100%. Same-lane boards: Electrician, Elevator Installer, Fire Sprinkler Installer.

Determines property boundaries. Licensed in all 50 states.

Land Surveyor: 51/51 boards require an exam (100%); unusually uniform for construction. Electrician is the usual same-lane contrast.

Board thresholds for Land Surveyor drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Electrician and Elevator Installer in construction. Methodology notes live on our methods page.

Land Surveyor states

Above median

Board gates for Land Surveyor: exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 0/51 (0%) , most boards skip mandated CE hours . Stack that against Electrician / Elevator Installer before calling this license soft or hard.

Other licenses near Land Surveyor's board count

Coverage band

Land Surveyor boards vs Electrician / Elevator Installer - state table

51 states

State	Edu. Hours	Exam	Init. Fee	Renewal	Cycle	Same-board peer
Alabama	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Septic System Installer · Taxi/Ride-Share Driver
Alaska	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Security Alarm Installer · Tax Preparer
Arizona	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Arborist / Tree Surgeon · Body Piercer
Arkansas	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Tax Preparer · Animal Breeder
California	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Certified Nurse-Midwife · Debt Collector
Colorado	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Elevator Installer · General Contractor
Connecticut	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Food Handler / Food Safety Certification · Home Inspector
Delaware	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also General Contractor · Insurance Agent
District of Columbia	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Food Handler / Food Safety Certification · Home Inspector
Florida	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Real Estate Agent / Salesperson · School Counselor
Georgia	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also School Bus Driver · Speech-Language Pathologist
Hawaii	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Bartender / Alcohol Server · Commercial Truck Driver (CDL)
Idaho	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Dental Hygienist · Esthetician
Illinois	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Farrier / Horseshoer · Hearing Aid Specialist
Indiana	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Food Handler / Food Safety Certification · Home Inspector
Iowa	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Court Reporter / Stenographer · Elementary School Teacher
Kansas	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Professional Engineer (PE) · Registered Nurse
Kentucky	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · Secondary School Teacher
Louisiana	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Process Server · Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist
Maine	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Tattoo Artist · Amusement Ride Operator
Maryland	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Surgical Technologist · Water Well Driller
Massachusetts	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Sign Language Interpreter · Tow Truck Operator
Michigan	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Veterinarian · Athletic Agent
Minnesota	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Arborist / Tree Surgeon · Body Piercer
Mississippi	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Barber · Childcare Center Director
Missouri	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Armed Security Guard · Casino/Gaming Dealer
Montana	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Bartender / Alcohol Server · Commercial Truck Driver (CDL)
Nebraska	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Casino/Gaming Dealer · Court Reporter / Stenographer
Nevada	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Esthetician · Hair Braider
New Hampshire	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Chauffeur / Limousine Driver · Dental Hygienist
New Jersey	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Commercial Truck Driver (CDL) · Electrician
New Mexico	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Debt Collector · Elevator Installer
New York	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Food Handler / Food Safety Certification · Home Inspector
North Carolina	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Bartender / Alcohol Server · Commercial Truck Driver (CDL)
North Dakota	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Body Piercer · Cosmetologist
Ohio	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Food Handler / Food Safety Certification · Home Inspector
Oklahoma	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Glazier · Interior Designer
Oregon	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Interior Designer · Massage Therapist
Pennsylvania	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Interior Designer · Massage Therapist
Rhode Island	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Secondary School Teacher · Tattoo Artist
South Carolina	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Veterinarian · Athletic Agent
South Dakota	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Veterinary Technician · Athletic Trainer
Tennessee	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Elevator Installer · General Contractor
Texas	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Hearing Aid Specialist · Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Utah	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Medical Assistant · Optician (Dispensing)
Vermont	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Physician Assistant · Radiologic Technologist
Virginia	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Marriage and Family Therapist · Notary Public
Washington	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Phlebotomist · Professional Geologist
West Virginia	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Septic System Installer · Taxi/Ride-Share Driver
Wisconsin	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Psychologist · Roofer
Wyoming	-	Yes	$150	-	2 yrs	Also Substitute Teacher · Veterinary Technician

What to do with this

Land Surveyor is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.

Compare Land Surveyor's requirements against every other tracked profession. Browse all professions
#42 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
Check whether your license transfers under an interstate compact before assuming you need to start over. Reciprocity guide

Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.

Data sources

Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Land Surveyor requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.